Auto preparing file for printing Feature (extension)

do you know extension or plug-in for auto preparing a file for print?
I have a bunch of calling cards, flyers, brochures and etc.,
and I manually setting it up for print over and over again, sometimes I forgot 1 or 2 steps of doing that like missing cutting guides.
now I'm looking for that feature or similar, I know this is not impossible.
I have a idea but I don't know codes.

Hello IanHP8500,
Welcome to the HP Forums.
I see that you're having an issue getting your Officejet 8500 scanning on Windows 8.1. I will do my best to help you with this issue.
Did you upgrade to 8.1 from an older version of Windows?
If so, with it not scanning correctly. You can try just removing the HP Solution Center from programs and features.
Go to the bottom left corner of your screen right click on the Windows icon> go to Control Panel> Go to Programs> uninstall Solution Center if it's listed.
Next, instead of using the printer install wizard. Download the software from this link: HP Officejet Pro Full Feature Software and Driver. Let it run through, it should prompt to " add more software". This should allow you to reinstall Solution Center.
If you run into issues, there is something you may have to do. If you get a file missing error here, or the install hangs check your computer for the following.
McAfee Live Safe - Disable the "Realtime Scanning".
Check for and remove HPOINS*.dat or HPWINS*.dat. Here is a link to a post by JonW on how to do this: Re: installer setup hangs under Windows 8.1.
Try all of this, and let me know how you make out. Thank you for posting on the HP Forums.
I worked on behalf of HP.

Similar Messages

Preparing files for printer - no CM requested, image resizing

Using InDesign CS3 504, on Mac OSX 10.6.
I'm approaching the end of preparing a 40pp A4 magazine for a client. In about one week I'll be submitting my file to the printers who are UK based (I am UK based, too). I'm looking for the best set up to help them get things done accurately and efficiently.
My printers have requested that there be no Colour Management. I'm used to working with CM through CS, so I'm not certain what to do in this case.
Here's what I've done so far:
All colour swatches used are CMYK Process
All images are CMYK/Grayscale and have been saved with no colour profile
InDesign still has CM turned on - I have read that 'Emulate InDesign CS2 CM off' doesn't really switch it offAll images that get brought into InDesign show the colour profile from my InDesign CM in the Info palette (Euroscale Coated v2)
I also need to Export to PDF for them. What's the best setting for me to use for this? Should I be choosing 'No Colour Conversion' and 'Don't Include Profiles'?
I also don't understand if I need to resize my images to 300dpi at 100% size used (the printer's requested resolution for actual size output). This would be a relatively small job though, as there aren't that many pics. If I do this, would I Export to PDF with no Image Compression?
Thanks.

I'm going to give you my 2 cents worth here.
First, you don't need to size the images in Photoshop, you just need to be sure that the "effective resolution" that you see in the info panel is at least 300 ppi. If it's much more, downsampling at export is appropriate, if it's a lot less you need a larger image to start -- upsampling in Photoshop isn't going to improve things. 200-225 ppi is the lowest I'd be comfortable with for commercial grade offset, but it depends on the paper and linescreen.
As far as color management, you are correct, emulate CS2 CM Off is not a good way to work. My impression form what you've posted is that the printer wants no clor profiles embedded in your files to avoid the possibility of having his RIP do a color conversion that would do something bad, like make your 100% K type a 4-color mix.
There are several ways to approach this. The best, in my opinion, is to find out what the correct output space is going to be. Assign that as the working space in the document. Native objects and untagged imports will be treated as being in that space. Imports with embedded profiles will their colors adjusted to maintain the appearance in the tagged sapce, as closely as possible. I think this is better for photos, since I want them to look correct, and they don't have 100% single channel colors that will cause a problem, so I always embed the profile in photographs, and I have my color management policy set to preserve profiles.
On the other hand, vector logos, may want to be printed with the same mix of ink all the time, regardless of the color profile, especially if they have black type or strokes, so I tend not to embed profiles in those when saving. They will be interpreted then as being in the working space.
At export you can then either leave colors unchanged (if there is no RGB), or choose the working space as the target profile, and your CMYK values will be preserved. Do not embed profiles in the PDF.
If you have the wrong working space you can expect some color shifting on press.
Next best would be to work in whatever working space you think is correct and picking convert to to profile (preserve numbers) and choosing the correct target when you find out what it is. In that scenario any native objects and untagged imported images will be treated as if they are already in the destination space and the numbers will be unchanged. If your photos or linked graphics have embedded profiles, those profiles will be honored and converted to the destination. This should give you the same result as the first method, but puts off the need to know the output space until export.
My main reason for preferring the first method is that the screen preview is going to reflect the working space, so if that matches the destination you'll get a better idea of what's going on.

Prepare file for printing

I've been using Ps for quite a while now, but recently I had to expand my work to Illustrator as well. I am pretty much a newb when it comes to it though, and recently I had to send some logos to a printing company, in order for them to laser-print the logos on some pens. They replied back to me, saying that the logos needed to be "broken into curves" before they could go ahead and print them.
I have no idea what that means, and I've been on Google since early this morning, looking for an answer.
Can anyone help?

The grads are likely to be problematic. The printing method may be foil-based, transfer-based, or screen printing, which often require line art (artwork free of halftone dots), especially at small reduction sizes. That's one reason why it is commonly best to avoid contone artwork (grads, blends, raster-based tones) in proper logos.
And it's one possible reason why the imprinter insists on its being "broken into curves" (a very poorly stated requirement). He probably means having all the elements provided as closed paths so he can apply solid fills. (Text converted to paths; nothing in the clover leaf being dependent upon overlapping objects, for example if the white in the clover leaf is actually done by separate white-filled paths.)
Generally speaking, you don't want an output house having to modify your files. You should consider it your responsibility to deliver files suitable for the intended repro method. It is quite common that the technicians working at an output house may be experts in their particular media, but know next to nothing about preparation of the artwork files (as is suggested by the poorly-stated requirement).
That's why "as far as I know" doesn't cut it. An office copier is a "laser printer." But obviously, you can't run a writing pen through an office copier to have it imprinted.
There are, however, many writing pen models commonly used in imprinted specialty marketing which involve a paper insert behind a clear pen barrel. The imprint is just printed on paper, and can be printed with ordinary "laser printing" devices.
At the other end of the spectrum, it is also quite common in imprinted specialty marketing to employ what is technically a laser engraver which actually uses a laser beam to etch a design into a metal pen barrel, or to expose a light-fixed coating.
If there is one, provide a web link to the specific vendor and the specific pen model you are trying to design for.
JET

Preparing files for print

Hi everyone,
I was given a .icc profile from my printer and was told to convert to this profile after I'd finished my editing in RGB mode.
I was also given the following information:
General Specs for newsprint:
Colour should be CMYK. When converting RGB to CMYK, use the following Photoshop settings:
Ink Colour: Newsprint
Dot Gain: 30%
Separation Type: GCR
Black generation: Light
Total Ink Limit: 260%
UCA: 10%
I don't understand the above settings as I thought that all that information was captured in the .icc profile that I was supplied. This is my first experience in a colour managed workflow so I may be getting a bit confused. If the above settings are not in the .icc profile then where do I set them in Photoshop?
Would really appreciate any advice.

Hi everyone,
I was given a .icc profile from my printer and was told to convert to this profile after I'd finished my editing in RGB mode.
I was also given the following information:
General Specs for newsprint:
Colour should be CMYK. When converting RGB to CMYK, use the following Photoshop settings:
Ink Colour: Newsprint
Dot Gain: 30%
Separation Type: GCR
Black generation: Light
Total Ink Limit: 260%
UCA: 10%
I don't understand the above settings as I thought that all that information was captured in the .icc profile that I was supplied. This is my first experience in a colour managed workflow so I may be getting a bit confused. If the above settings are not in the .icc profile then where do I set them in Photoshop?
Would really appreciate any advice.

Preparing file for print

Hello,
I am getting some stationery printed and my printer asked me to set up the file so that I have 4 A2's on a standard 8.5" x 11". Can someone please tell me how to do that?
Thank you very much!

"A2" (envelope size) is 4.25" x 5.5"; exactly 1/4 a letter-size sheet.
Create design on an A2 page.
Start a new InDesign file at 8.5 x 11 with 0 margins, 2 columns, 0 gutter.
Place a copy of A2-size design, (indd or pdf...I'd choose pdf).
Duplicate it 3 times and snap each copy into a corner of the page.

Auto run file for installation of HP Officejet 8500 Pro A909g Missing from driver download

I have a HP Officejet 8500 Pro A909g. I downloaded the new Windows 8.1 64 bit driver as 8.1 would not allow the scanner to operate on the existing driver. Printing was fine. When i went to install the wizard, auto run file for the wizard is missing and so the installation can not run and instal the new driver.

Hello IanHP8500,
Welcome to the HP Forums.
I see that you're having an issue getting your Officejet 8500 scanning on Windows 8.1. I will do my best to help you with this issue.
Did you upgrade to 8.1 from an older version of Windows?
If so, with it not scanning correctly. You can try just removing the HP Solution Center from programs and features.
Go to the bottom left corner of your screen right click on the Windows icon> go to Control Panel> Go to Programs> uninstall Solution Center if it's listed.
Next, instead of using the printer install wizard. Download the software from this link: HP Officejet Pro Full Feature Software and Driver. Let it run through, it should prompt to " add more software". This should allow you to reinstall Solution Center.
If you run into issues, there is something you may have to do. If you get a file missing error here, or the install hangs check your computer for the following.
McAfee Live Safe - Disable the "Realtime Scanning".
Check for and remove HPOINS*.dat or HPWINS*.dat. Here is a link to a post by JonW on how to do this: Re: installer setup hangs under Windows 8.1.
Try all of this, and let me know how you make out. Thank you for posting on the HP Forums.
I worked on behalf of HP.

Adobe Acrobat Pro XI download will not install; stalls at preparing files for extraction

Adobe Acrobat Pro XI download will not install; stalls at preparing files for extraction

what os?
what file(s) (name/extension) have your downloaded and is their file size?

Saving files for print

I am designing certain elements in illustrator and then transferring them into Photoshop to add text and other finishing touches - I save the illustrator elements as .eps or .pdf and then open them in Photoshop. I save the final document as .JPEG but when I go to upload it to a professional printing company's web site.... it is saying that the .JPEG file is invalid and cannot be read. I went back into photoshop and saved the file for web but I am afraid that this will lower the quality of the print. How else can I save this document so that it is compatible?

Massively wrong workflow. Use Photoshop for pixel images. Place these into Illustrator and add text and other graphics there.
Finally save as pdf and send the Acrobat file to print.
Remember that a vector file is resolution independent, whereas if you take everything into Photoshop as a last step you are not only nailing down its resolution but also pixelating stuff that should not be pixelated.
It sounds as if you are maybe a web designer who needs to learn a thing or two about preparing artwork for print.

Saving a JPEG file for printing

When saving a JPEG file for printing using Elements9, should one use "baseline standard, optimized or progressive"?

Thanks, Andromeda.... I see that PSE8 Organizer has the ability to update the Caption as you have described. The caption appears in the Description field in the General area and in the Description field in the IPTC area of the image file. I was unable to update the Title or any other fields using Organizer. Looks like PSE8 Editor must be used to update all the metadata fields in the image file. Thus far, the only way I have been able to update the metadata in a JPEG file without having to re-compress it is with a HEX editor. This, however, is a slow process at best. Too bad Organizer or Editor does not provide the abilty to update all fields in the metadata without having to recompress the file. I am not a programmer; however, it would appear to be a fairly straight-forward process. Thanks, again.

Does anyone recommend a good graphic utility to prepare files for the web?

Does anyone recommend a good graphic utility to prepare files for the web?

GraphicConverter as noted by Don, or Photoshop Elements are the favourites. Both will allow comprehensive editing, and save for web facilities including reducing the .jpg quality to shrink file size without making the picture smaller.
There is a free application calld Gimp (open source) but I don't know how good it is or whether it's updated for Lion.

Need advise on preparing .ai files for print house for labels design

Greetings!
I just got a freelance job to do label design for commercial products (cleaning, food products, etc).
Its a huge task as the company have lots of products in the market and they decided to drop the design
company that were doing the labels for them and hire me to be the main designer.
Since my main work with Illustrator and Photoshop is been for Web Design and screen graphics,
I am not sure how to use Illustrator CS5 the best way for preparing the final files to send to a print house
according to European or US norms, I would like to have some help from other users that maybe are experience with this kind of job.
My main concerns for now are:
1. Should I send .ai or .eps?
2. Pantones or CMYK ? And how to create the artboards that show the measures of the labels and the pantone colors palette
    (I have seen examples on some prints that have show me ), but have no idea if Illlustrator already have a template/tools for that.
3. About the size of the labels, if its a straight shape, like a square, you make the artboard on that size and just put some bleed,
    but since most products labels come in many shapes, how do you work around it?
   Since the artboard can´t have the same shape as the labels , will the white background being print?
4. When using effects like highlights, reflections, especially in Titles, how do you create the pantones for that ?
Hoping to have some help from the community here, you can send me some links, tuts,
everything that can help me to understand all this kind of process, I will be much appreciate.
Thanks!

Some of the following (but not all) repeats, but elaborates on or clarifies what others have said.
First, though: While I certainly don't mean to discourage you, you will be far better off getting started if you realize this:
Designing for commercial-quality print is a hugely different world from designing for the web. You are now dealing with characteristics and limitations of real-world, physical machines, inks, substrates, and many-step workflows. The most tragic (and potentially disasterous) error web-only designers (and their clients) make is naively thinking that moving from web design to print design is a simple lateral move involving nothing more than a few quick answers to a bullet list of questions (CMYK vs. spot, etc., etc.) If you fall into that camp, you are asking for serious and costly trouble.
A user forum like this is a very poor place to educate yourself. Forums like this are populated by more beginners than experts, many of whom are far too eager to post answers. More often than otherwise, answers are--if not downright wrong--not best-practice.
You need to gain a working knowledge of the printing processes with which you wll be dealing. Take a class at the local tech school. Visit the printing houses (and don't carry a designer's chip on your shoulder). Look for any opportunity to get your fingers dirty; offer to do some grunt-work in a press room to gain exposure. Read authoritative books on the subject.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
f1. Should I send .ai or .eps?
Nowadays, PDF is the preferred delivery format for whole documents. If the printing house is placing the artwork in a program that cannot place PDF as a spot graphic, it is conceivable that they may need EPS. Depends on the printing house's workflow. In print work, you need to communicate with the printing house--and you need to learn to speak their language.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
2. Pantones or CMYK ?
Don't say "Pantones." Pantone is a company. Say "spot color." Pantone makes both process and spot inks. Pantone is not the only source for spot color. Your question is "spot color or CMYK process." The answer depends on the specific project.
Labels may involve CMYK process, spot colors, or a combination of the two. You can't just add colors to your design willy-nilly. You have to plan and design for it. It depends on the printing budget, the printing capabilitites of the printing house, the printing method, and even the design (which may affect the substrate, which may not be suitable for process).
When designing for print, don't think in terms of colors. Always think in terms of inks, because that's what you're really dealing with. Each time you add an ink, you add a workflow process, and therefore cost. As soon as you add a number of inks in the design that exceeds the number of inkwells on the press on which it will be run, you have just necessitated another press pass.
Labels also commonly involve clear or translucent inks (varnishes), liquid lamination (flood or spot), metallic inks, and/or foils. Each of those count as an additional ink or even a different work process. Sometimes certain inks require drying time after previously-laid inks, which also affects costs.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
And how to create the artboards that show the measures of the labels and the pantone colors palette
Again, best practice depends on the printing house and its workflow. For example, it can be a no-brainer labor (i.e.; money) savings to gang multiple instances of a label design onto a design page (Artboard) set up to the size of the press sheet.
It can be advantageous to draw die cuts on a separate Layer, also ganged to match the artwork layout. Same may apply to foils, varnishes, and embosses. It's often advantageous to draw trim and fold marks in the bleed area of the page layout. It's often advantageous to add registration marks in a press-sheet layout.
Again, best-practice depends on the project--but the economical and turn-around advantages can be significant.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
(I have seen examples on some prints that have show me ), but have no idea if Illlustrator already have a template/tools for that.
Whenever you catch yourself thinking "I have no idea if Illustrator..."--read the instructions.
Most graphics programs (including Illustrator) provide options for including basic "printer marks" (trim and registration marks, separation labels) outboard of the page size. That doesn't mean it isn't often advantageous to add your own. For example, the auto printer marks setting will only add one set of trim marks for the whole page. That's pretty useless in a multi-up layout, which is quite common in label design.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
...but since most products labels come in many shapes, how do you work around it?
Pages (Artboards in Illustrator) are rectangular. One typically provides die cuts (and/or varnishes, foils, embosses, etc., etc.) as elements drawn accurately on a Layer dedicated to the purpose.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
Since the artboard can´t have the are same shape as the labels , will the white background being print?
There is no "background." This is an object-based program. Where there is no object, there is nothing. By default, even white fills don't mean "white ink"; they mean "no ink." (Remember, think inks, not colors.)
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
4. When using effects like highlights, reflections, especially in Titles, how do you create the pantones for that ?
Illustrator is primarily a vector based drawing program. Vector graphics are by nature and even by definition sharp edged. When vector programs try to provide "soft & fuzzy" features, they do it in either of two ways: either by programmatically creating additional vector paths and parameters (blends, grads, mesh grads), or by resorting to creation of non-vector "effects" (raster images). Whether such features correctly handle spot colors depends on the feature, and even on the version of the program.
So whenever working with spot color--in any program--you have to stay consciously aware of what you are actually doing (what kind of objects you are creating) when you apply such features. That's why it does no good in a user forum to speak of nebuous designerly terms like "highlights" when you ask technical questions. In order to get a correct answer, you ultimately have to state the kind of objects you are dealing with (and feature, and version, etc.).
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
1. PDF?? I only use .pdf to show the client the designs before approval but never as final file...also I have heard from some many places that if the print house needs to open the file on a different design program the best is to send them .eps
PDF is a delivery format. As such, it is very versatile. Design comps is only one of its many uses. But PDF is not meant to be an editable format. When you deliver a PDF that was created by Illustrator and which is fully editable on the receiving end, you are really embedding in the file a full second version of the file as native AI content. Whether this AI-native content is included is controlled by you when you export the PDF.
Editing PDFs that do not have the AI-native content embedded can be very cumbersome and problematic. Again: PDF is a delivery format, not an editing format. Ideally, the printing house should not have to edit your press-ready files. It is supposed to be up to you to build them correctly. That should be your goal.
I expressly forbid printing houses from editing my delivery files. If an edit is needed, it comes back to me, and I make the edits. If a printing house chooses to edit one of my files without permission--and a problem result--they eat it; not me.
Yes, yes, if print-side minor editing (like the afore-mentioned ingredients boilerplate scenario) is part of the established workflow, that's fine; its assumedly been agreed upon as the cost-efficient workflow. But generally speaking, the kind of designer who routinely relies upon the printing house as a "safety measure" to fix his files is...well...exactly the kind of designer I would not hire.
By the way: Hearing something "from many places" (especially in online user forums) in this business is no indication of correctness or best-practice. Quite often, the most-cited advice is the bad advice. Case-in-point: The ever-cited myth that everything for print should be rasterized to 300 ppi. 300 ppi is usually needless oversampling. This is especially true in reference to mere raster effects like those controlled by Illustrator's Document Raster Effects Resolution setting. 300 ppi is almost never needed for the most common uses of such effects: blurry drop shadows, glows, etc., etc. "Fuzzy" is the very purpose of those effects. All you have to concern yourself about is the potential for visible pixelation, which is directly tied to halftone ruling.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
...what I was mention is to be able create like a table where you list the pantones use, same time to put measures guides on the artboard itself, is this possible to do in illustrator?
Again, separation names are included in the Printer Marks option of the Print Dialog. See the documentation. Depending upon your delivery format and workflow, the printing house may not even use Illustrator's printer marks; they may use those in one of their prepress programs.
But you should always check the seps before sending a press-ready file. You can do this in AI's print dialog, or in Acrobat Pro. Regardless, it's your job to make sure the project color-separates correctly. It is very common to "finish" a job thinking you have been very careful and everything is right. It is just as common to preview the seps and find an object on the wrong separation plate, or knocking out something it shouldn't, or overprinting something it should knock out.
(There's also the whole matter of trapping, which this thread has yet to mention.)
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
...imagine I have a label that is a star with 200x200 px, and the artboard is white background with 300x300px,
I will add (with as much force as I can muster) my admonition to that which has already been given: when talking about actual, physical measure, forget about the web. Forget about Photoshop's rulers. Forget about pixels. A pixel is not a unit of measure. If you think it is, tell me: How big, in inches, is a pixel? I might as well ask you "how high is up?"
If you tell a printing house that the trim size of your document is 600 by 1200 pixels, he will (and should) laugh at you.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
if I print the artboard on my laser printer I get the label with the background also, so how does the print house manage to
not have the background of the artboard when they print?
If you print the artboard on your laser printer, you do not "get the background." Think about it: Do you have any white toner in your laser printer? (Think inks, not colors.)
All the above is offered in a spirit of helpfulness (and some tongue-in-cheek jest). Take it as such. Bottom line, though--and this is not meant to be the least bit insulting--unless the company you have just contracted with is a small mom & pop shop and/or has very basic labeling projects, it really sounds as if you are already in well over your head. I am certainly not saying any of this is rocket science. It isn't. A dedicated person can learn its ins-and-outs in relatively short time if that time is well spent. But an online user forum is a very error-prone, incomplete, inefficient, and therefore poor way to learn it. It doesn't sound like you have that much time to waste.
JET

Can mac auto select pages for print by size

Hello, does anyone knows if there is a way how to set up on Mac auto selecting for printing pages by size? I need it to print loan documents for my notary public business. Using HP laser dual tray printer.

Hello Shane,
I am notary public and I would recieve file with documents that need to be printed on both legal and letter size paper. I used Adobe Acrobat from my husband's Windows computer which sorts the documents by paper size and then print's them out on correct size paper.
The printer I have is HP Laserjet 400 M401n.
Thank you for your help

XML File for "Print Quote"

Hi,
Since we'r doing a customization on the Seeded "Print Quote", Is there any possible way to retrieve the XML file (Source file) for the "Print Quote"?
Thanks in advance,
Muru

Muru,
I too have the same requirement of customising the quote report.
Could you please let me know which approach u are taking, i mean customising the RDF report and its template or the xsl-fo template.
As far as I have understood from the docs, we can either customise the ASOPQTEL.rdf and its layout or customize the seeded xsl-fo ie, ASOPRINT.xsl.
Just an idea, probably you can run the ASOPQTEL.rdf and take the xml output.
Satrajit

Bursting control file for Printer not working in WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT

Hi,
We are trying to print xml publisher report output (PDF) using bursting control file. Is not wokring.
We are using ebs (R12.1.1) on Windows environment.
Any pre-requisite setup (ie. cups config) should be done before printing using control file. Please guide me i am not having knowledge in printer setup and printer part..
Thanks in advance
--Ben

Hi Hussein,
Yes, I am able to print seed concurrent report (o/p -text) to that printer (method:- giving the printer name and copies by clicking " Option " in SRS window.. )
When i do the same for xml publisher publisher report to the same printer , its not working using bursting control file.
I too made the test in xml publisher report without bursting control file , there i faced another new issue. Let me explain
1. We are using RDF as data source . here o/p :-" XML "
2. We are using RTF as layout. In template definition, i chose the default o/p type as :- "HTML"
3. When i submit the request, i choose the printer which is working fine for printing seeded report. (method:- giving the printer name and copies by clicking " Option " in SRS window.. )
4. My printer getting prints HTML tag, instead of desired o/p. I wondered after seeing the printout.
5. I cross checked by clicking view output, its showing me the exact html output as per RTF layout.
Dont know wat happening ??? Help me out.
i did the same for changing default output type in template definition to RTF,PDF.. its printing source code of the output type instead of printing output.
Thanks & Regards,
--Ben

Best way to insert 300dpi photo's into Ilustrator file for print

I am creating a 5.5 X 8 postcard style card for print. I need to place 15 photographs that are aprox. 1.5 X 2.5 each. What is the best way to insert these files so that my file doesn't become too large? I will be making a PDF of the final artwork to send to the printer. Your guidance is much appreciated!!

Link don't embed the images. Use a layered format such as .psd, .tif, or .pdf. Psd is not lossy, .tif can be lossy if you modify the default settings, .pdf you choose how much compression you want, and a small amount of compression can make a much smaller file size.
I would recomend using .psd, in cmyk color space. When you make your pdf for printing is when you will decide how much compression and which pdf preset you will use(press ready or PDF X should be a good choice). That will be your important choice.

Auto preparing file for printing Feature (extension)

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